2. Pecking
• Two supported theories of cause
• Redirected ground pecking from foraging
• Redirected dust bathing pecking
• Combination of different STRESSES lead to pecking
• Learned behavior
• Seen more at the end of the lighting day (8-14 hours after lights come on) in
medium heavy brown strains
3. Poor Feather Cover Consequences
*feathering on back and vent are best indicators of overall feather score
• Higher feed intake
• ~16% more in winter weather
• lower egg production during colder (<20C) temperatures
• Food per dozen eggs was 27.5% better in well feathered birds
• Some studies show reduced body weight at 40 weeks and end of lay
• 46% higher energy requirement and 27% higher feed consumption at 64.4C
4. Hot Blade
Pros
• In house management
• Can adjust for individuals
Cons
• High human variability
• Higher costs of labor
• Added stress of catching and handling
• Reduced body weight during first few
weeks after
• Greater regrowth of beak
5. Infrared Beak Treatment
Pros
• No in house labor or time
• Automated, precise adjustments
• Reduced stress of handling
• Gradual change in beak
• No open wounds or infection
• Fewer abnormalities in adult beaks
• Less pain and nerve damage?
Cons
• Possible stressor to vaccinate and
trim at same time
• No adjusting on individual basis
• Machinery is very complex
7. Current
Costs
5 cents per bird for IRBT
at hatchery
Current Beak Trimming
Activity Amount Cost per Total Cost
3 pullers 13 hours $20/hr $ 780.00
5 trimmers 13 hours $20/hr $ 1,300.00
Pre-trim maintenance 5 hours $20/hr $ 100.00
Blade Costs 24 blades $3.50/blade $ 84.00
Post-trim maintenance 0.5 hours $20/hr $ 10.00
Total Cost $ 2,274.00
Cost per pullet $ 0.06317
Additional “Costs”
• Lost man power for other jobs
• Tim cannot check out other barns
6.317 cents
8. Subjective scores for beak quality at 72
weeks of age
Score 1: beak closed (upper and lower beak
of same length); rounded point; no growth
beyond the edges; little bone material
removed.
Score 2: length of lower and upper beak
differs by 2-3 mm; parts of the growth
beyond the edges broken off and/or up to
1/3 of beak bone removed;
Score 3: the lower beak is significantly
longer than the upper beak (> 4mm) due to
regrowth; crossed beak or bony base
structure cut by more than 1/3.
11. Poor Beak Trim Consequences
• A 1982 study shows significantly lower food intake for shorter beaks
compared to longer beaks
• Forks and shovels reduce ability to pick up food
• Decrease feed efficiency
• Consume less large particles with smaller beaks
• Limit production potential
13. Scoring Guide
1) Body Weight
2) Beak Length (mm) : 0= over 2/3 of beak remains Layers 0= 9+ mm Pullets 0 = 4+ mm
1= between 1/3 and 2/3 of beak remains Layers 1= 4-9mm Pullets 1= 2-4mm
2= less than 1/3 of beak remains Layers 2= < 4mm Pullets 2= < 2mm
3) Shovel: 0=absent 1= present
4) Fork: 0=absent 1=present
5) Bubble: 0=absent 1=present
6) Feathering Pecking: signs of pecking on head, back, thighs
0= no bare skin, only single feathers missing
1= moderate damage, bare spots less than 5mm
2= severe damage, in multiple locations, bare skin >5mm
7) Vent Pecking 8) Overhang
0= no bare skin, only single feathers missing
1= moderate damage to vent
2= severe damage to vent
16. Trimming Pullets
SP1- with old gauges SP2- with new gauges
Trimmer # LengthShovel Fork BubbleOverhang Total
Dorian 1-30 0.57 0.54 0.32 0.11 0.00 1.54
Don Jr. 31-60 1.17 0.13 0.27 0.20 0.00 1.77
Tim 61-90 0.30 0.20 0.20 0.07 0.00 0.77
Tara 91-120 0.00 0.03 0.23 0.07 0.30 0.33
Ron P. 121-150 0.73 0.07 0.10 0.27 0.10 1.17
Taylor 151-180 0.13 0.27 0.13 0.00 0.07 0.53
Average 0.69 0.23 0.22 0.16 0.03 1.31
Trimmer # Length Shovel Fork Bubble Overhang Total
Dorian 1-45 0.40 0.49 0.09 0.00 0.00 0.98
Don Jr. 61-90 0.30 0.23 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.53
Tim 91-120 0.20 0.27 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.50
Ron P. 121-150 0.20 0.30 0.23 0.00 0.03 0.73
Adam H. 151-180 0.80 0.20 0.03 0.10 0.00 1.13
Average 0.28 0.32 0.09 0.00 0.01 0.69
17. Hot Blade Procedure
Blade temperature
Cauterization time
Age at trim
Length of trim
Operator Influence
Machinery Influence
18. Blade Temperature
• Goal of 1200F ±50F
• Dull red color to the blade
• Thermocouple to measure every hour
19. Cauterization Time
• 2+ seconds
• Machine automated
• Hold on until blade has come all the way back up
20. Age at Trim
• 6-10 days of age
• Younger is better
• Reduces stress response
• Quickest recovery
• Signs of less chronic pain
21. Length of Trim
• American Humane standards- no more than 1/3 beak can be removed
• Beak should be about 4mm post-trim
• Leave 2 nickels, remove one nickel
22. Operator Influence
• Rate of 15 birds per minute
• Sit while trimming
• 5 minute break every hour
• Standardized training program
• Train more people to reduce operator fatigue
23. Machinery Influence
• Standard operating procedures
• Sharp blades
• Change every 3000 chicks
• Remove beak residue with wire brush every 30 minutes
• Gauge holes not enlarged
• Blade flush with back of gauge
24. Beak Angle
• Hold beak at 15 angle above horizontal to create block cut
25. Suggested Improvement Costs
• Replace gauges
• $6-9/gauge
• Replace blades every 1500-3000 birds
• $3.50/blade
• Thermocouple to measure blade temperature
• $145
26. Possible Stressors and Changes
Heat Stress Earlier or seasonal transfer to diurnal
temperature
Changes in feed too quickly More gradual changes in feed
Lack of foraging opportunities Put whole grains, straw, or grass shavings
into the litter
Change from pullet floor to layer house
caged in
Let birds out earlier after transition to layer
house
Exposure to natural light after rearing in
light-proof house
Block light from entering vents
27. Alternatives/Additives
• Beak blunting
• Abrasive in bottom of feed trough (only shortens beak 1mm compared to untrimmed)
• Non Slip Tape 3M-
• Enrichment devices
• Foraging material- straw, grass in litter
• White string (polypropylene twine) is most effective
• $35
Study done by a Canadian professor to investigate what was occurring with brown beaks IRBT treated and could not recreate poor results seen on farms
Machinery is very complex and Nova-Tech has been working to train hatcheries
-
Experiment done with whites and browns, 1/3 HB, 1/3 IRBT, 1/3 control
Measure feather cover, production parameters, and quality of beak treatment (shovels)
- Score when weigh, 180 birds per barn
No correlation between beak score and flock uniformity, pecking behavior, or body weight from this data
Used as basis for IRBT trial
- Created detailed standard operating procedures for maintenance and trimming
Feed changes in summer as grow own crops
Change to diurnal sooner (younger) or make it seasonal so in the summer everyone changes to diurnal
Interviews in community
Last question how do you see Krehers interacting in the community
Nothing but good things to say